Why no Cuomo? Mystery solved

Gov. Paterson just wrapped up his announcement that Kirsten Gillibrand will replace Hillary Clinton in the US Senate and while the 90-minute event was a fairly predictable love-fest among Democrats, there was a bit of news, in that Paterson explained why he didn’t tap Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for the job.

First off, he said Cuomo never asked for the appointment, and perhaps more importantly, Paterson was concerned about filling another top vacancy that would have been created had Cuomo gone from the AG’s office to the US Senate.

“I had a real reservation about the continuing vacancies,” said Paterson.

New York is without a Lt. Governor, since that was the job that Paterson left. And both Paterson and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli were un-elected by the public. Paterson went from the Lt Gov job to Governor when Eliot Spitzer left in March and DiNapoli was elected by lawmakers after his predecessor in the Comptroller’s office, Alan Hevesi, stepped down amid a scandal.

And, of course the last time there was a major statewide vacancy was for the Comptroller’s office, which led to a battle between Paterson’s predecessor and former Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

Cuomo was one of the few statewide politicians who wasn’t at the Gillibrand announcement but almost at the same moment Paterson was giving his explanation, the AG put out this statement:

“I extend my warmest congratulations to New York’s new United States Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand. I have had the pleasure of knowing her for many years. Kirsten came to Washington to join me at HUD where she did a superb job serving the nation. I have deep respect and affection for her. Her victory in the 2006 Congressional race defied the pundits and the polls. Kirsten is a genuine friend. I am sorry I could not be with her today, but look forward to many opportunities to partner with her in the future to help the state during these difficult times.”

Additionally, Paterson, by way of explaining the general chaos and confusion that surrounded his process of naming a Senator, said he “wrestled” with the decision of who to choose and how to do it.
“In retrospect I wish I had not shown you all of the wrestling match.”